Point of Care Concentration Analyzer

Abstract

An analyzer system includes a cartridge configured to receive a sample. The cartridge has a plurality of chambers for isolating a target analyte of the sample and collecting a quantity of a first label that is proportional to a quantity of the target analyte in the sample. The system includes an analyzer with a first electromagnetic radiation source a first detector and a controller. The first electromagnetic radiation source is configured to provide electromagnetic radiation to form an interrogation space within a detection chamber of the cartridge. The first detector is configured to detect electromagnetic radiation emitted in the interrogation space by the first label if the first label is present in the interrogation space. The controller is configured to identify the presence of the target analyte in the sample based on electromagnetic radiation detected by the first detector.

1 . An analyzer system for measuring a concentration of a target analyte in a sample, the analyzer system comprising:
 a motor;   a dock coupled to the motor so as to be rotated by actuation of the motor;   a cartridge held in the dock and including a fluid system configured to receive a sample, isolate a target analyte of the sample, and collect a quantity of a first label that is proportional to a quantity of the target analyte in the sample, the fluid system including:
 an inlet chamber, 
 a mixing chamber downstream of the inlet chamber and configured to mix at least a portion of the sample so as to bind the target analyte with the first label, and 
 a wash chamber downstream of the mixing chamber and connected to the mixing chamber by a channel that extends radially inward from the mixing chamber so as to impede flow of the sample into the wash chamber during a mixing process that is carried out in the mixing chamber; 
   a first electromagnetic radiation source configured to provide electromagnetic radiation to form an interrogation space within a detection chamber of the cartridge;   a first detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation emitted in the interrogation space by the first label if the first label is present in the interrogation space; and   a controller configured to identify the presence of the target analyte in the sample based on electromagnetic radiation detected by the first detector.   
     
     
         2 . The analyzer system according to  claim 1 , wherein a channel extending from the mixing chamber to the wash chamber includes a capillary break, the capillary break having an expanding cross sectional area in the direction leading away from the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The analyzer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid system of the cartridge further includes a separation area disposed between the inlet chamber and the mixing chamber, the separation area including a radially inner separation chamber and a radially outer separation chamber that are connected by a constricted neck. 
     
     
         4 . The analyzer system according to  claim 3 , wherein a siphon extends from the radially inner separation chamber to the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         5 . A method of mixing a liquid in a cartridge in the form of a flat disc, the method comprising:
 introducing a liquid to a mixing chamber of the cartridge through a channel that extends radially inward from the mixing chamber, the mixing chamber including a mixing ball therein;   rotating the cartridge in a first circumferential direction so as to urge the liquid radially outward and retain the liquid in the mixing chamber;   intermittently accelerating and decelerating the rotation of the cartridge so as to move the mixing ball back-and-forth recursively through the mixing chamber.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the mixing chamber is provided with lyophilized reagents prior to the introduction of the liquid, and
 wherein mixing resulting from the movement of the mixing ball through the mixing chamber releases gas from the lyophilized reagents into the liquid.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the released gas moves radially inward and out of the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the mixing ball is non-magnetic. 
     
     
         9 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method of detecting the presence of a target analyte in a sample, the method comprising:
 introducing the sample into a cartridge, the cartridge including a fluid system for isolating the target analyte of the sample and collecting a quantity of a first label that is proportional to a quantity of the target analyte in the sample, the fluid system comprising:
 a first chamber, 
 a second chamber, and 
 a channel extending from the first chamber to the second chamber; 
   binding the target analyte to a substrate comprised of paramagnetic beads;   positioning a first magnet near a first surface of the cartridge and adjacent to the first chamber;   facilitating relative movement of the first magnet and the cartridge so as to pull the paramagnetic beads out of suspension and into a bolus, the relative movement being facilitated by at least one of moving the first magnet across the first surface or moving the cartridge;   directing electromagnetic radiation from a first electromagnetic radiation source to form an interrogation space within the cartridge;   receiving, in a first detector, electromagnetic radiation emitted in the interrogation space by the first label if the first label is present in the interrogation space; and   identifying, using a controller, the presence of the target analyte in the sample based on electromagnetic radiation detected by the first detector.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising facilitating relative movement of the first magnet and the cartridge so as to transfer the paramagnetic beads and the target analyte from the first chamber to a second chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising performing a washing operation in the second chamber so as to isolate the target analyte from other constituents of the sample. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the washing operation includes:
 moving the first magnet away from the first surface of the cartridge such that the paramagnetic beads disperse in the second chamber;   moving a second magnet toward a second surface of the cartridge such that the paramagnetic beads collect near the second magnet;   moving the second magnet away from the second surface of the cartridge such that the paramagnetic beads disperse in the second chamber; and   moving the first magnet toward the first surface of the cartridge such that the paramagnetic beads collect near the first magnet.   
     
     
         17 . A method of detecting the presence of a target analyte in a sample, the method comprising:
 introducing a sample into a cartridge, the cartridge including a fluid system for isolating the target analyte of the sample and collecting a quantity of a first label that is proportional to a quantity of the target analyte in the sample, the fluid system comprising:
 an inlet chamber, 
 a separation area connected to the inlet chamber, the separation area including an inner separation chamber and an outer separation chamber, and 
 a detection chamber downstream of the separation area; 
   transferring the sample from the inlet chamber to the separation area;   rotating the cartridge using the centrifuge so as to move more dense constituents in the sample toward the outer separation chamber and move less dense constituents toward the inner separation chamber;   transferring the less dense constituents of the sample from the inner separation chamber to a mixing chamber;   isolating the target analyte from the less dense constituents of the sample;   transferring the target analyte to the detection chamber;   directing electromagnetic radiation from a first electromagnetic radiation source to form an interrogation space within the detection chamber of the cartridge;   receiving, in a first detector, electromagnetic radiation emitted in the interrogation space by the first label if the first label is present in the interrogation space; and   identifying, using a controller, the presence of the target analyte in the sample based on electromagnetic radiation detected by the first detector.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 capturing an image of the sample in the separation area using a camera;   analyzing, using a controller, the image of the sample in the separation area to determine a position of the more dense constituents within the separation area; and   in response to the determined position of the red blood cells more dense constituents, further rotating the cartridge using the centrifuge so as to further move the more dense constituents toward the outer separation chamber.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising analyzing, using the controller, the image of the sample to determine a clarity of the sample in the inner separation chamber after rotating the cartridge using the centrifuge, wherein transferring the portion of the sample from the separation area to the mixing chamber is carried out in response to the clarity of the sample being above a predetermined value. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising capturing an image of the sample in the mixing chamber; and
 analyzing, using the controller, the image of the sample in the mixing chamber to calculate a volume of the sample in the mixing chamber.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the sample is a blood sample.